m himself, that he had
opened a loan for a million of florins; but we are much in the dark
as to the success of it, as well as many other particulars relative to
his situation, which would be very interesting.

_September 7th, 1781._ Since writing the above letter, Colonel Laurens
has come to this city from Boston, at which place he arrived in the
Resolve, with the two store ships under her convoy, after a passage
uncommonly tedious. It is certainly unnecessary to mention how great
pleasure we have received from this occurrence.

Another equally pleasing, is the arrival of the Count de Grasse in the
Chesapeake Bay, on the 30th of August, with twentyeight sail of the
line, viz. one of one hundred and ten guns, three of eightyfour guns,
nineteen of seventyfour guns, four of sixtyfour guns, and one of fifty
guns. The Count de Barras sailed from Rhode Island on the 24th, so
that probably he has before this made a junction with the Count de
Grasse, although he had not on the 31st of August. A detachment of
about seven thousand men is on the way to Virginia, of which about two
thousand and five hundred were at the head of the Elk. As many more
must have arrived there this evening, and the remainder tomorrow.
There are landed from the fleet, three thousand men, and we are told
these will receive an addition of one thousand and five hundred
marines, besides the army under the command of the Marquis de
Lafayette, which was before in Virginia, and consists of about five
thousand, including the militia. Lord Cornwallis was entrenched at
York, in Virginia, with five thousand men. General Washington takes
the command of the southern army in person. The fleet under the Count
de Grasse took on its way a packet from Charleston to Great Britain,
on board of which was Lord Rawdon. From this combination of
circumstances, you will perceive, that we have reason to flatter
ourselves with the expectation of pleasing occurrences.

With the greatest respect, &c.

ROBERT MORRIS.

* * * * *

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Office of Finance, August 28th, 1781.

Sir,

My circular letter to the Governors, of the 25th of July, a copy
whereof was sent to Congress on the 6th of August, contains a solemn
assurance, that all the accounts of the several States with the United
States should be speedily l